Michelle Obama Holds Bible for Oath of Office

On January 20, 2009, for the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, his wife held the Bible on which he swore the oath of office. The Bible, on loan from the Library of Congress, was used only once before: when Abraham Lincoln took office. The wife of the President has held the Bible for her husband on these occasions since Lady Bird Johnson was asked to do that honor by her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1965. For that oath, President Johnson used a family Bible, given to him by his mother.

Michelle Obama wears an ensemble by designer Isabel Toledo.

• Another photo: Michelle Obama Holds Bible at Inauguration